Despite what we'd shared that night, things were not entirely easy between us. Catherine still struggled to forgive me for sleeping with the Count and it created a tension. I tried to reason with her that this was exactly what Henry wanted, that she was playing directly into his hands.

'He's trying to cause conflict, to prove that he can come between us. If he tears us apart, he'll win. Don't you see that?'

She knew my words had merit, but she still struggled to separate their logic from the pain his actions caused in her heart.

'He's going to win eventually anyway, if he keeps sending you on these ridiculous trysts.'

'Catherine, no, we're stronger than that.' I insisted.

'Strength isn't always enough, Charity. It has its limits.' She told me.

'Watching the person you love give themselves to another poisons the heart. Henry did it to me for years and it destroyed us.'

'So don't let him do it to us.' I took her hands in mine, pleading with her. 'Maybe strength does have its limits, but we're not there. Not yet.'

She scoffed and pulled her hands away.

'You don't understand. Henry poisoned my heart before and he's doing it again now. And he'll keep doing it. Again and again and again and he won't stop, not until he's destroyed us both.'

I had to reason with her, terrified now of losing her.

'He'll tire of this game eventually, you know he will. Please don't lose faith in us.'

'One thing Henry never tires of is dangling me close to the threat of the fire.' She was becoming defeated, even avoiding eye-contact.

'I'm used to those threats. As Queen, it's something one learns to expect rather quickly, but this…' she turned to me, a spark in her eyes.

'He knows. He's known about us at least since you were poisoned. And he's taken it as a slight, a ridicule. That's why he's doing this and why he'll keep doing it. To torture me. To punish me.'

'You don't-'

'He will, Charity. He'll produce men after men - possibly even women, just to add insult to injury - and find ridiculous reasons to insist you sleep with them, just to rip us apart. He will because he can, because he's the King and he knows you cannot refuse him. And, eventually, it will tear us apart.'

Defiance replaced my desperation.

'Are you quite finished? Because I can't listen to this anymore. Henry is no fool, I don't believe for a moment that he expects either of us to put-up with this for long. Guilty or not, I would never stand to be treated as a common whore for him to loan out indefinitely. And even when you and I were merely friends, I can't believe you would have either!

He may be the King, but I am a Lady and I deserve to be treated with some respect! My loyalty is to you. Of course he's waiting for me to snap, hoping I lose my sense thinking only of my feelings for you. But I'm not that easily controlled. You have to have more faith in me! You have to trust he won't succeed in this vendetta.'

Francis burst in at that moment, furious.

'Have you both completely taken leave of your senses?'

'Francis!'

'What's happened?' I asked, nervous.

'You've been discovered!'

'What?' My eyes widened in horror.

'No!" Catherine gasped.

'A night guard claims he saw you in rather an intimate pose - his own words. He couldn't be sure before you disappeared and when he reached the corner he thought you'd disappeared beyond, you were nowhere to be seen but he was sure he heard… things.'

Francis had the look of revulsion you'd expect from someone discussing a parent in this situation.

'I didn't ask him to elaborate.'

'Has word reached Henry?' Catherine asked.

'No. Bash has the guard indisposed until we can figure out how to proceed. It's not an ideal situation and, frankly, it was one I'd rather hoped to avoid.'

He looked at us with equal amounts of intense disappointment and irritation.

'How could you allow this to happen?' he implored us.

The question was directed at us both, but I knew he was really asking me. Blaming me.

Catherine and I looked at each other and I felt my heart plummet. I could see it in her eyes.

'Catherine, no-'

'We have to end this. There's no other way.'

'You're giving-up without a fight. Without even trying!'

'We knew the risk we were taking, Charity. We knew we were playing with fire!'

'Henry will find something else to entertain him. He will tire of this!'

'Unless he tires of it and finds a more permanent solution first.' Francis added. Rather unhelpfully, I felt.

As the meaning behind his words hit, I glared at him. I couldn't believe he'd said such a thing, when I could already feel Catherine slipping out of my fingers.

'Francis!' I directed the full force of my anger at him.

'He's right.' Catherine agreed quietly. 'We've barely even started and we've already been reckless enough to get caught. All it would take is one whisper to Henry and we'd both be done for treason.'

When she finally looked at me, tears ran down my face. I wanted to speak, to defend us both, but it appeared rather futile. Her expression was one of a stubborn finality.

'I told you I would protect you and I stand by that,' Francis reminded me 'If you were to be together. But if this is what my mother chooses?'

'It is.' Her words tore my heart in two.

'I'm sorry, Charity, but we have no choice.'

I couldn't look at her, the feeling of despair closing in around me, more than my heart could bear. I simply turned and left the room, all sense of reason far from my mind.

After a dreadful night's sleep, I went back to see Catherine. Part of me believed that the initial panic of Francis's news would have subsided and we could work through it together, rationally.

'I haven't changed my mind, Charity.' she confirmed before I had a chance to speak. 'I know you're disappointed, I am too. But you have to realise-'

'Disappointed?' I cut her off. 'Is that what you think? Catherine, disappointment would have been had you'd rejected me back when I first kissed you. Or if you'd shown no sign of caring while Henry's been whoring me out. Even, god forbid, if you'd chosen to release me from my duties and ban me from court. This isn't disappointing, it's heartbreaking! We love each other, how is this not harder for you?'

She looked at me with eyes so cold, they didn't show even a flicker of the tortured emotions I had to believe she was experiencing. She chose her next words so carefully, turning away as she spoke.

'Perhaps my feelings for you don't match-up to yours. Perhaps I don't feel as deeply as you do.'

I felt them in the pit of my stomach. Whether there was truth to them or not, there was enough doubt in my heart to allow them to settle and turn to stone.

'No, I don't- I can't believe you mean that.' I took hold of her arm in desperation. 'Catherine, please, let's just discuss this!'

'There's nothing to discuss!' she whirled around in anger, ripping her arm free from my grasp. 'I have nothing left to add to this conversation, Charity. It's been decided. So kindly take heed of my decision. You'd do well to remember, you are my Lady first.' Her words were like a slap in the face.

'Please leave me. Now.'

I backed-out of the room, not daring myself to speak. I returned to my chambers, my world spinning and feeling like my heart had been ripped-out and torn to shreds. I couldn't make sense of it. I couldn't believe it: Henry had won. He'd won and I'd lost her.

Receiving word from Bash that the guard had been dealt, I went to see him.

'What exactly does that mean?' I demanded.

'Don't worry, we didn't kill him. We simply bribed him.' He remarked. I gave him a look. 'Alright, then we banished him.'

'Isn't the King the only one who can do that?' I pointed-out.

'Yes, but Francis gave him good incentive to do as we instructed.'

'Meaning the money and his life?' I wasn't impressed.

'Pretty much.' Bash said very matter-of-factly.

I sighed, rolling my eyes to show my disapproval.

'We advised him, should he ever return or word spreads about what he thinks he saw or heard, he'll find himself acquainted with a sword.'

I rubbed my face in frustration.

'Bash, it won't matter anymore anyway. Catherine ended things between us. We're finished.'

'Yes, Francis may have mentioned that.' Bash admitted, sweeping me up in a hug. 'She'll come to her senses. I'm sure of it.'

'I'm not.' I replied sadly, as the tears that had been threatening again now flowed freely down my cheeks.

'Bash, I can't believe it.' I sobbed into his shoulder. 'I've lost her.'

'She wouldn't just give-up on you so easily. Not after everything you've been through to get here.'

I'd like to say I handled our separation with grace. I'd also like to say that Henry did indeed tire of his games once achieving his victory. I would very much like to say these things, but they aren't the case. If anything, he almost seemed to take more delight in them than before. I didn't understand it at all, but I no longer particularly cared either. For weeks I was a broken shell and barely took note of any new tasks he assigned me. Francis did try to intervene on a number of occasions, advising me I was entitled to deny such requests, but it made little difference to me anymore. My spirit was rather broken, a fact that didn't seem to spoil the fun for any of my newly assigned conquests.

On the other end of things, I was still Catherine's Lady, a duty I continued to take seriously even if the dynamic between us had now changed severely. It was difficult, though, especially as Henry continued with his sick demands, parading his power for all to see.

But her behaviour towards me had changed. As much as she liked to claim she didn't care, she showed otherwise and it occurred to me that as long as she did, there may still be some hope.